Advocacy

This week, 10 more state-specific fact sheets were added to the E-Fairness Action Kit (E-FACT) on BookWeb.org, the American Bookseller Association's member website. Next week, the ABA will add the final fact sheets for the remaining states that collect sales tax but do not yet have e-fairness laws. ABA launched E-FACT in January to provide booksellers with a wide array of state-specific tools to help them in their e-fairness outreach efforts.

New fact sheets are now available for:

Ten new state-specific fact sheets were added this week to the E-Fairness Action Kit (E-FACT) on BookWeb.org, ABA's member website. Over the next month, the American Booksellers Association will add fact sheets for each of the states that collect sales tax but do not yet have e-fairness laws. ABA launched E-FACT in January to provide booksellers with a wide array of state-specific tools to help them in their e-fairness outreach efforts.

New fact sheets are now available for:

This week, the American Booksellers Association began adding state-specific fact sheets to the E-Fairness Action Kit (E-FACT) on BookWeb.org, ABA's member website. Fact sheets are now available for California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Mexico, and Tennessee. Over the next month, ABA will add fact sheets for each of the states that collect sales tax but do not yet have e-fairness laws.

 On Wednesday, April 14, Suzy Staubach of UConn Co-op Bookstore in Storrs, Connecticut, went to the state capital in support of HB 5481, sales tax fairness legislation. Staubach, who was accompanied on her visit by ABA staff, met with the legislators representing the districts of both her home and UConn Co-op. These included meetings with House Majority Leader Rep. Denise Merrill; Rep. Bryan Hurlburt; Sen. President Pro Tempore Donald Williams; Sen. Anthony Guglielmo; and Sen. Andrew Roraback (on behalf of three ABA member bookstores in Roraback's district).

At an April 6 meeting between the American Booksellers Association and the Small Business Administration, the SBA asked if ABA member bookstores would offer their evaluation and feedback regarding the clarity and ease of use of a questionnaire related to Small Business Health Care Tax Credits.

This week, ABA President Michael Tucker, of Books Inc. in San Francisco, and ABA CEO Oren Teicher traveled to Washington, D.C., for a meeting with Karen Gordon Mills, head of the Small Business Administration, to discuss issues of importance to independent booksellers. Joining them at the meeting was SBA Chief of Staff Ana M. Ma.

The American Booksellers Association and the New England Independent Booksellers Association (NEIBA) are urging Connecticut bookstore members to contact their state representatives to voice their support for HB 5481, sales tax fairness legislation. In late March, Connecticut's Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee passed the legislation by a vote of 35 - 13. Connecticut's House of Representatives is now considering the bill.

Meg Smith, the American Booksellers Association's membership and marketing officer, and indie booksellers Steve Bercu and Betsy Burton are on the program of the American Independent Business Alliance's International Conference  this weekend in Tampa, Florida.

Last Thursday, Connecticut's Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee passed sales tax fairness legislation, HB 5481, by a vote of 35 - 13. The legislation now goes to Connecticut's House of Representatives for consideration.

This week, American Booksellers Association staff traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with key legislators and other associations to discuss sales tax equity and other policy issues. Over a two-day period, ABA CEO Oren Teicher, Content Director Dan Cullen, and Senior Public Policy Analyst David Grogan met with senior staff from the offices of Sen. Michael Enzi (R-WY) and Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-MA), and with representatives of the National Retail Federation (NRF) and AARP. In addition, they attended the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) American Associations Day 2010.

On Wednesday, March 17, a group of Maryland booksellers testified at a state Senate Budget and Taxation committee hearing in Annapolis in support of e-fairness legislation. Other booksellers submitted written testimony in support of the bill, SB 824.